Tonight I went to the Chinese Lantern Festival at Albert Park, Auckland….

and I was rather shocked by a comment made by a City Council representative to one of the food-stall occupants. What happened was he came around at just on closing time and was telling everyone they had to stop selling and turn their main light out, fair enough, but in doing so, the person in the food stall, (who is not native to NZ and so English was most defiantly NOT their first language), didn’t understand clearly what he said, and when they replied that they weren’t sure about the lights, the City Council representative leaned in and said to them “ don’t give me that sarcastic attitude” and they were like what?..

I was standing right there and saw it all first hand.. and I was shocked, that someone who worked and represents the city council at what is a cultural event for the Asian community, had the balls to act like an asshole, and show NO CULTURAL SENSITIVITY OR UNDERSTANDING AT ALL.

I even had a conversation with the person, and explained that the people he was talking too didn’t understand, and that how they talk was just normal for them and their culture.. he then said he spoke to this person earlier in the day (this time was about 10 at night) and he said he knew she was giving him lip,.. to which i said he was wrong cause the person in question had only been there less than an hour and that he should watch what he says… he stood his ground, said he was right, that they were being sarcastic, and then he just walked away.

Well.. Mr Council representative … you should not be working at an event where there is a dynamic cultural mix, cause you obviously haven’t the skills to communicate with other people or even understand that NOT EVERYONE speaks or UNDERSTANDS English like you do.

I have his picture, but I won’t post it just yet, I’m going to publish this, and send a link to the council help desk, and see what happens.. and I might even go to the media.

If I don’t have any joy with that, I will post the picture within the week.